Number 78 - Van Halen I by Van Halen

Number 78: Van Halen I by Van Halen

A revolution in rock and roll

Release: February 10th, 1978
Genre: Rock
Favorite Tracks: Eruption, Ice Cream Man, Jamie's Cryin'

 

Where I heard it: 

As I mentioned back in my entry for Pearl Jam's Ten, a major turning point in my musical tastes came right before starting high school after purchasing a stack of CDs from a yard sale down the street from my house. I can remember the amusement and amazement I experienced putting each one into my step-dad's hi-fi stereo system throughout the summer, receiving a musical education with every playthrough. Within this collection of 7 or 8 CDs was Van Halen's eponymous debut album, which featured radio staples like Runnin' With the Devil and Jamie's Cryin' that I was familiar with at the time. I knew Van Halen's brand was prominent across the sphere of arena rock after watching hours of old concert footage clips from VH1 retrospective shows. What I had yet to understand as a teenager was the scope of what Van Halen achieved through their efforts that revolutionized music history, all starting from Van Halen I.

 I found the simple life ain't so simple
When I jumped out on that road
I got no love; no love you'd call real
Ain't got nobody waiting at home
~ Runnin' with the Devil

What to expect:

Founded by brothers Alex and Eddie Van Halen, the band already had two of the most outstanding instrumentalists on drums and guitar respectively. When you consider the addition of prolific frontman David Lee Roth, it's no wonder why Van Halen quickly caught the attention of audiences worldwide with their electrifying variety of rock and roll. Roth's notoriety as a sex symbol is well expressed through the lyrical content, boasting extravagant semi-autobiographical tales of promiscuity and heartbreak. His emblematic screams and wails of nefarious bedroom activities between verses add texture and excitement to an already versatile vocal range. Low notes have a deep, gruff slur to them, while the high register is where Roth makes his money with boisterous swagger and everlasting confidence. With all that said, Roth plays a clear second fiddle to virtuoso and band namesake Eddie Van Halen, arguably the finest guitar prospect since Hendrix. The musical composition of Eddie is nothing short of symphonic, whether its the heavy chord progressions within the band or the sensational solos that delight every track on Van Halen I. In fact, Eddie is quick to flex his remarkable talents in an unhinged, unabridged, unbelieve two-minute solo entitled Eruption, which completely shattered the limits of the electric guitar's capabilities in the late 70s. His utilization of two-hand fret tapping on Eruption is one of the first and greatest examples of its kind, reprising itself in other solos on the album like You Really Got Me and I'm the One. While there is no weak member of Van Halen, it's difficult not to shine the spotlight on the iconic rock pairing of Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth. These two lead the charge in creating something from Van Halen that had never been done before, and its ambition paid off in one of the greatest debut albums of all time.

 Now Jaime's been in love before
And she knows what love is for
And she needs a little more than one-night stands
She wants to send him a letter
Just to try to make herself feel better
It said, "Give me a call sometime"
But she knows what that'll get her
~ Jaime's Cryin'

 

Why it's my favorite:

For being raised by games like Guitar Hero, it surprises me that my fandom for Van Halen didn't get started until high school. None of Van Halen's songs were featured on releases up until the release of Van Halen's very own Guitar Hero installment, but I was well-acquainted with this group by the time of that release. I've heard what feels like the entire back catalog of classic rock guitar players, and Eddie Van Halen still possesses a quality within his playing that resonates with me. You can feel the energy produced through the amplifiers in your speakers at home, like an intimate concert venue for a powerhouse of a band. While I never got to experience the spectacle of a live Van Halen show for myself, I have a memory of an interaction I had with the parent of a friend I had in high school band that made me feel as if I'd seen one. This band dad had seen Van Halen on numerous occasions, both in their prime and recent reunion tours, and the stories he told of Van Halen's impeccable stage presence captivated my attention during a long bus ride. I was able to so clearly picture those experiences without my own first-hand account, and so much of that is due to the immersion that Van Halen I surrounded me in the first time I heard it. There's a caliber of musicianship to this album that you have to respect as an all-time classic, and that luster has not been lost on me in the several years since first hearing this album.